ODENSE: From turning a weakened squad to a powerhouse over a 20-year span, Park Joo-bong can leave Japan with his head held high as the most successful head coach.
And a contented Joo-bong, who will turn 60 in December, is happy to leave behind his legacy.
Joo-bong’s contract ends in March next year but Japan’s new leadership have not been extended it.
Ohori Hitoshi will be the new supremo starting January while Joo-bong will stay on as an advisor before leaving in March.
Joo-bong said he cherished his stint in Japan.
“As a player, I’ve won every title for South Korea except the Thomas Cup. But I got to taste the Thomas Cup success with Japan as a coach. It’s all complete now,” said Joo-bong.
“Japan also won their first Uber Cup title and their first Olympics gold through the women’s doubles pair Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
“These are priceless achievements. Japan grew gradually from having just a small pool of players to a huge squad that kept winning titles.
“I must say that I was there at the right time in Japan. I was fortunate as we had exceptional talents like Kento Momota, Nozomi Okuhara, Akane Yamaguchi, and many top men and women and mixed doubles pairs.
The only blemish in his almost spotless career with Japan is the team’s failure to win gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and that will always be his sore point.
“Kento was involved in an accident in Malaysia in 2020 just before the Covid-19 outbreak,” said Joo-bong.
“Due to Covid, the Olympic Games in Tokyo was postponed by a year and played in an empty stadium at home – that was sad. We ended our campaign with one bronze (through Yuta Watanabe-Arisa Higashino).
Joo-bong is not the only one leaving the set-up, as several senior players are expected to retire with few new faces stepping in. There are also changes in partnerships.
Watanabe for instance made his maiden appearance with his young partner Maya Taguchi at the ongoing Denmark Open while Higashino will focus in the women’s doubles with Ayako Sakuramoto.
“I wish the Japan team all the best,” said Joo-bong, who also thanked the former leadership for giving him the full support to run the show, without interfering in all his decision making processes in regards to training and coaching.
What’s next for Joo-bong?
“20 years is a long time to be with a team, but I’ve enjoyed my stay. I’m satisfied. I’m looking at few options right now and see which suits me the best,” he added.
From a multiple Olympic Games medallist and world champion to a renowned coach, Joo-bong will continue to be the role model for many in years to come.
